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Ali Ahmadov: â€œNo political force in Azerbaijan can boycott the presidential electionsâ€

04 June 2008 16:09 (UTC +04:00)

-The proposal of YAP on reducing the election period was taken into consideration and adopted during the annexes and amendments to the Electoral Code. Why YAP insisted on reducing the term?
-2008 election campaign will be carried out with improved election law. YAP offered to improve the law long ago. Each law is practiced. During the elections in 2003 and 2005 we came to the conclusion that there was a need to make some amendments to the law. One of them was the reduction of election period. Comparing the election practice in Azerbaijan with the elections held in a number of other countries, we saw that 120 days are allotted for the election in our country, while the countries with more population allot two-two and a half months for the elections. It shows that the time allotted for the elections does not have influence on the democratic elections. On the other hand, three elections are held in Azerbaijan every five years. if 120 days are allotted for each of these elections, it means that Azerbaijan is engaged in elections for a year. So much time is nowhere allotted for the elections. On the contrary, in some countries parliamentary and local elections are held at the same time in order to economize. Expenses are reduced twice by reducing the term. For example, six weeks are allotted for the election in the United Kingdom. In this respect, Azerbaijani parliament passed a right decision.
-Are 75 days enough for YAPâ€™s election program?
-If the term had not been reduced, our program would have covered 120 days. But now we will prepare a 75-day election program. 75 days is enough for nomination and campaign. I want to say that though the term of campaign has been reduced in Azerbaijan, this term is longer than in other countries.
-Some opposition parties, who had decided to participate in the elections, started discussions on boycotting the elections after the annexes and amendments to the law were adopted. What can you say about it?
-We can understand if the parties having no real chances to participate in the elections look for a pretext. But annexes and amendments to the Electoral Code can not serve as a basis for the parties having real intention to participate in the elections to change their mind. Of course, there are parties in Azerbaijan, which make statements much before the elections that they will win, but then we see that their statements and resources differ from each other. Actually, those who are looking for pretexts, can always find them. We have witnessed such pretexts many times in the political history of Azerbaijan. There is no ground to boycott the elections. On the other hand, there is great difference between missing the elections and boycotting the elections. There is political party in Azerbaijan able to boycott the elections. All parties with necessary human and other resources for agitation campaign and collecting of signatures will join the elections.
-Which problems can opposition boycott create for the government?
-Boycott and not-joining the elections are different things. There is no political force in Azerbaijan able to boycott the presidential elections. Most of voters will attend the voting process in the 2008 presidential elections using their voting rights. No one of the parties stated today the boycotting of elections has an opportunity to influence on the public opinion and to change the peopleâ€™s opinion. Therefore there is no question of boycotting the election by any party. There are enough parties in Azerbaijan intending to attend the elections and they will attend it.
-Was it possible to adopt the amendments proposed by the opposition to the Electoral Code? May political situation change in the country if the document would meet the oppositionâ€™s demands?
- Azerbaijani opposition has a strange form of approach. They think that it is possible to change election law and to get success on the eve of every election. Despite that Azerbaijan holds elections for 15-16 years as a new society, a number of parties can not realize that way of success in the elections passes through the peopleâ€™s support. There is no more significant and important support than it. The parties, who can not achieve success, dispute the changes of law on the eve of every election. Especially they demand to change format of election commissions. Those parties demanded it have not realized yet that fate of elections does not depend on the election commissions. The achievements thanks to the election commissions make the elections anti-democratic. If any party intends to show its anti-democratic views, let it to continue such demands. Non-acceptance of oppositionâ€™s proposals for the composition of election commissions has own reasons. The commissions were established on the parity basis in 2000 by the proposal of international organizations and opposition, but the oppositionists refused to participate in the commissionsâ€™ work because of differences between their and peopleâ€™s interests. In that time international organizations suggested the current format to avoid the paralyzing of commissionsâ€™ work. Neither YAP, nor other parties have an opportunity to breach the elections now. It is fair format.
-Baku City Executive Authority suggested Bibiheybat Stadium to opposition to hold its meetings. Will YAP hold its meetings there?
-In difference from the opposition YAP does not establish its activity on the meeting tactics. If the places were defined for the meetings in Baku, we will hold our meetings there within a law and rules specified by the local authorities. There is no difference to hold meeting in Bibiheybat, or in the Ukrainian Square or near Galaba cinema house. YAP will hold its pre-election meetings in the places specified for this aim. Our opponents argue that Bibiheybat is far from the center. The opposition held enough meetings during the pervious presidential and parliament elections. Most of people were brought to those meetings from far regions. How comes it, they could bring the people from 200 km far from Baku, but can no gather in 5 km of the capital saying that it is far from the center. The opposition should make its intensions public. They intend to hold actions in the crowded places and to create image that they hold large meetings, but they deceive themselves. Results of elections show that they have no more supporters.